Emrgy is a woman-led climate tech company founded in 2014 that designs and deploys modular, scalable hydroelectric solutions to transform existing water infrastructure—like irrigation canals and pipes—into sources of continuous, distributed renewable energy.[2][3][6] It serves water districts, utilities, and agricultural operations by solving the problem of generating reliable, cost-effective clean power from low-flow, shallow water sources that traditional hydropower cannot access, while also enabling water conservation.[1][3][6] Emrgy has secured over $31.6 million in total funding, including an $18.4 million Series A in 2023 led by Oval Park Capital, signed a global manufacturing partnership with GE Renewable Energy, and locked in exclusive LOIs with 30 U.S. irrigation districts covering over 2,200 miles.[1][5] The company now operates in four U.S. states and New Zealand, with a new 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Denver producing up to 200 turbines per month at scale.[3]
Emrgy was founded in 2014 by Emily Morris, an award-winning entrepreneur with nearly 15 years in emerging hard tech development, who spun out the core technology from her prior role at AMT, Inc., where she managed federal contracts for tech commercialization.[2][3] Inspired by the technology's potential for commercial viability in a carbon-free energy transition—after her employer declined to pursue it—Morris established Emrgy in Atlanta, Georgia, to redefine hydropower for decentralized grids.[2][3] Early traction came from proving the tech's functionality, followed by pivotal milestones like DOE partnerships, including a $1.1 million SBIR Phase II award and TEAMER technical assistance.[3] Key leadership includes CTO Tom Cuthbert, with 20 years at GE building energy storage systems, and a board featuring investors like Justin Wright-Eakes of Oval Park Capital.[2]
Emrgy stands out in renewable energy through these key strengths:
Emrgy rides the distributed energy transition, capitalizing on global decarbonization and grid resilience needs amid rising intermittent renewables like solar/wind.[2][6] Timing aligns with U.S. infrastructure upgrades (e.g., irrigation districts) and policies like DOE funding, unlocking untapped hydropower in non-traditional sites—vital as marine/hydrokinetics gain traction for baseload power.[3][4] Market tailwinds include water-energy nexus pressures from climate change, with Emrgy influencing ecosystems via partnerships (GE, Enel, Xylem) and tech demos at ARPA-E summits, proving scalability for agriculture and utilities.[1][3] By enabling on-site generation, it reduces transmission losses and supports energy independence.
Emrgy is poised to scale aggressively, leveraging its $18M+ Series A (part of $31.6M total) to deploy projects nationwide, expand manufacturing to 30+ staff in Denver, and prove cost-competitiveness/grid contributions.[3][5] Trends like hybrid energy systems, marine energy optimization (recent patents), and U.S. clean tech incentives will propel growth, potentially eyeing a $27M raise as hinted in 2023 reports.[1][4] Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to major player in water-based renewables, humanizing climate tech through Morris's leadership while transforming infrastructure into energy assets—echoing its mission to redefine hydropower for a decentralized world.[2][6]
Emrgy has raised $18.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Emrgy's investors include Alpha Intelligence Capital, BMW i Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Fifth Wall, Sente Ventures.
Emrgy has raised $18.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $18.0M Series A in April 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2023 | $18.0M Series A | Alpha Intelligence Capital, BMW i Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Fifth Wall, Sente Ventures |
